[Undergraduate medical education--vacuum, growing pains or vision? Study plans at the University of Copenhagen].

Establishing the 1986 study plan in the medical faculty in Copenhagen took ten years. This study plan fulfilled most of the requirements of the medical curriculum proposed by the National Professional Committee in 1976. A particularly positive feature was emphasis on clinical subjects as compared with conditions in the 1967 plan. The absence of priority awards for the specialist subjects resulted in a total increase in the curriculum of 12% with the risk of prolongation of the course or increasing the number of drop-outs. Qualitatively, overfilling of the study plan with scheduled subjects may result in deterioration, as time for more intensive study of the subjects and participation in bedside teaching is reduced. Considerable reduction in scheduled teaching and in the curriculum, particularly theoretical lecturing, which is soon outdated, is recommended. Instead, greater emphasis should be laid on individual training in solving problems and search for knowledge, training in clinical skills, and attitudes which ensure that future generations of doctors have a critical scientific approach and responsibility and care for their patients.